6.5 bullets for coyote

6GUNSONLY

6GUNSONLY

Member
Hi guys. Long-time member here but I haven't been on the board in a while. Hope I'm still welcome here. 🤔
Question for those with more 6.5 cal. experience than I have... I've been primarily a .308 guy for most of my deer hunting and have several rifles so chambered. A year or two ago, I decided I wanted a lightweight, synthetic stock, SS rifle in a middle of the road chambering for a do-all rifle. I wound up with a Kimber in 6.5 CM and mounted a Leupold VX5 3-15x. I've worked up loads for deer hunting with 125 grain Nosler Partitions, but would like to also work up a good coyote load (that hopefully will shoot to a relatively similar POA). The only lighter weight bullets I have are some 95 grain V-Max. Anyone with experience with those? What other lighter weight 6.5 bullets should I look at?
P.S. fur-friendly is not a concern here in the South.
 
Speer makes a 90gr FB bullet. If you can find Sierra 1700, those are great. Accurate and kills 'em well. Those were discontinued a few years ago, but once in a while I see them for sale online. Similar POI will be difficult.
 
Boomstick said:
If you can find Sierra 1700, those are great. Accurate and kills 'em well.
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Boomstick is correct, the closest that is offered is the #1710 - 100gr from Sierra. As a alternative to the 85gr. Currently I'm working on that bullet (#1710) in the Creedmoor.
The Speer 90 gr should be a good choice as well. (which honestly might be a great choice as Speer make a good bullet, and is usually affordable in price point)

I did have some really good results with the Sierra #1725 120gr HPBT SMK and Winchester 6.5 StaBALL powder.
 
6GUNSONLY said:
............... I've worked up loads for deer hunting with 125 grain Nosler Partitions, but would like to also work up a good coyote load (that hopefully will shoot to a relatively similar POA)........
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How about 125gr Nosler Partitions? Seriously, ....what, .....they won't kill them dead enough?
 
I've loaded some 95 gr v-max for my 6.5 Tikka, but wasn't satisfied with the accuracy. I tried some factory Varmint loads with the 95 and they shot really well, with a speed of near 3300 fps (would have to check notes for exact speed). Think Varmageddon has a 90 gr bullet, and TNT has a 90. I used to load them in my 6.5 Grendel.
I haven't tried my 6.5 for coyotes, currently shooting a 22-250. If they're accurate in your gun, the lighter bullets should be deadly for coyotes.
 
Don_P said:
How about 125gr Nosler Partitions? Seriously, ....what, .....they won't kill them dead enough?
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Ha, yes, no doubt they would. But they're a little spendy, somewhat hard to find at times, and id just like to play around with a lighter bullet. You know were always looking for a "need" to work up another load.
One thing I have considered is using an "old school" cup and core type bullet for everything - like say the 120 grain Sierra (I have some). Im sure they'd be more than adequate on deer, certainly on coyote, and a little thriftier than Partition Noslers.
 
hammerbullets.com

.264 Cal-080gr Hammer HHT® - Hammer Bullets

AT THIS TIME TIPS ARE CONSUMER INSTALLED TIPPING BLOCK INCLUDED WITH EACH ORDER Running 3600 fps in a Creedmoor, this little bullet still has over 2200 fps at 500 yards. A max point blank range capability of 412 yards without changing your point of aim. Impact velocity at 300 yards over 2700...
hammerbullets.com hammerbullets.com

.264 Cal-080gr Hammer HHT​


1763683585798.png
 
6GUNSONLY said:
One thing I have considered is using an "old school" cup and core type bullet for everything - like say the 120 grain Sierra (I have some).
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I did find a good load with that combo in my "old school" 6.5 CM Remington 700 LOL yesterday ...
Used Win StaBALL 6.5 (44.7grs) with that bullet, CCI standard 200 primers set the bullet 0.020" from jam. That being a little slower than H4350, I would expect equally good results with the H4350. Which I did find a good load with IMR 4350, but the StaBall 6.5 load was way more consistent than the load I had with the IMR.
As the T/C Compass (S&W) in 6.5 CM was in the shop I couldn't shoot that load to see if it was as good as the Remington.

would it work for Yotes? IDK haven't shot one with it yet.... and naturally YMMV
 
I use 85gr Sierra but when they became unavailable it started with 90gr Speer in my Grendel and 6.5x58R Sauer.
 
6GUNSONLY said:
Ha, yes, no doubt they would. But they're a little spendy, somewhat hard to find at times
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aprox price $1.17 ea. The OP says a bit spendy.
Then some post about the HHT Hammers at $1.44 ea as a alternative, as if it's cheaper or better than the Noslers.

I find that amusing.

Complain about cost and others quote / recommend you a higher priced item.
Don't get me wrong I'm not saying the HHT aren't worth the cost, with their copied "wasp waist design" (pre-1968) and a boattail in a monolithic bullet. Great Idea adopting the wasp waist with the Monolithic bullet as a marketing sale point. I'm sure they fly great and hits just as advertised "like a Hammer". Nor am I saying that it is a bad recommendation. Just I found it amusing when looking at it from a $$ perspective only.

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The 85 Hammer Hunters are fantastic little bullets and should get around 3400-3500 fps in your CR. Accuracy is super easy.
 
????
Not a single recommendation for the 100 gr
Hornady ELD VT ???

My coyote load is a 100 gr eld vt in front of 38.8 gr IMR 4064
I get 3300 fps in a 22" barrel .

You should look at the flat trajectory of that load ..

DRT is assured ..
 
Have used the 95 vmax to good results, as well as the 90 varmegedon. Both in a grendel & creed. Have had issues getting heavier bullets to open with a 6.5 prc. 135 berger to be exact.
 
Not really a lightweight, but i discovered a cache of 120 Sierra flatbase I didn't know I had. Anyone used those on deer or coyote, either?
 
They don't work good for anything but I do a free disposal for them, just send em my way
🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

Honestly have not tried them for that yet. But did get an accurate load out of them which I posted above. But I think they would work.

Just reviewed the Sierra offering the FB is a #1720... I was using the #1725 SMK's oops ... but with the exposed lead tip of the #1720's I'd say they would open up and work well
 
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